Three N. Idaho men arrested in Gorge riot
Three North Idaho men were among five people arrested over the weekend after a Gorge campground riot following the Warped Tour concert.
Deputies were pummeled with beer bottles and cans when they responded at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. According to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office release, campers set a comfort station on fire and about 400 people were fighting.
Kyle Anthony Phillips, 24, of Post Falls, Travis William Abram, 22, of Hayden, and Aaron David Smith, 18, of Coeur d’Alene, were arrested, along with Jacob Lewis Spaeth, 21, of Fort Lewis, Wash., and Richard Joseph Dempsey, 27, of Burbank, Wash. All were charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and threatening a public servant.
It took officers from 10 law enforcement agencies to quell the riot. Several were left bruised, authorities said, and damage to the campground is estimated in the thousands of dollars.
– Amy Cannata
Spokane
Man sought in attack on landlord arrested
After a short foot chase Monday, police discovered they had caught the man wanted for allegedly beating his landlord with a hammer on Aug. 9.
A resident called police after finding a stranger showering at the caller’s apartment, in the 1500 block of West Fairview Avenue. Police located a man in the area who matched the description given by the caller – shirtless, wearing jeans and possibly on drugs. The man took off running when police attempted to stop him, according to a Spokane police news release.
An officer got to him a few blocks away. The man turned out to be Brian L. Benefiel, the 25-year-old suspect in a beating at the Daniel Apartments, 525 W. Sinto Ave. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault, Cpl. Jon Strickland said.
Benefiel, who has an extensive criminal history, was being evicted from his apartment when he reportedly beat his landlord over the head with a hammer Aug. 9. The 39-year-old landlord, who was not identified, suffered life-threatening injuries and was in serious but stable condition Monday, said Strickland.
– Nick Eaton
Council OKs hiring six firefighters
A new firefighting plan is a step closer to implementation.
Last month, Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession announced that he wanted to hire 10 new firefighting staff, including six firefighters who would create a three-person company to work during peak hours. They would be stationed at different firehouses depending on demand.
On Monday, the City Council unanimously gave their support to create the six firefighter jobs starting Oct. 21. Money would be shifted from another part of the Fire Department’s budget to pay for their salaries for the remaining part of 2007.
Councilman Al French, who is challenging Hession in the mayoral election, noted that the change cannot happen until the firefighters union, Local 29, agrees. That’s because the concept is considered a change in working conditions.
– Jonathan Brunt